Dynamic generation of client-specific feature maps

ABSTRACT

The present disclosure relates to methods and systems to generate a modified feature map specific to a client. A template feature map may be modified based on usage data associated with a client. The template feature map may represent a visual representation of a plurality of features provided by an operator, each feature associated with a plurality of instructions to be processed for the client. The usage data may be compared with each feature to determine whether any feature is associated and/or utilized by the client. Based on determining whether the usage data indicates that any feature is associated and/or utilized by the client, the template feature map may be modified to perform an action to the template feature map indicating that a feature is associated and/or utilized by the client. A modified template feature map may be generated that is specific for a client.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure relates to feature map generation, and, in particular,to generating client-specific feature maps based on feature usage dataof each client.

BACKGROUND

Entities (e.g., a corporation, a vendor) may provide solutions toclients that include one or more features. As an example, a corporationmay provide financial accounting solutions to clients that includemultiple additional features relating to financial accounting that aclient can utilize. In many cases, these entities may have a pluralityof features available to clients. Accordingly, entities may generate avisual representation of all available solutions/features to provideclients an easily-understandable representation of the availablesolutions/features.

In some cases, entities may provide visual representations to aprospective client to illustrate all available solutions and/or featuresthat can be provided to the prospective client. In other cases, entitiesmay provide these visual representations to current clients toillustrate solutions/features that are already provided or can beprovided to the client.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Various features and characteristics of the technology will become moreapparent to those skilled in the art from a study of the DetailedDescription in conjunction with the drawings. Embodiments of thetechnology are illustrated by way of example and not limitation in thedrawings, in which like references may indicate similar elements.

FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of a network architecture, inaccordance with various embodiments.

FIG. 2 illustrates a block diagram of a template feature map, inaccordance with various embodiments.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating example usage data associatedwith a client, in accordance with various embodiments.

FIG. 4 illustrates a mapping between usage data and a template featuremap, in accordance with various embodiments.

FIG. 5 illustrates a block diagram of a flow process for generating amodified feature map, in accordance with various embodiments.

FIG. 6 illustrates a block diagram of a generated client-specificfeature map, in accordance with various embodiments.

FIG. 7 illustrates a block diagram of a generated client-specificfeature map, in accordance with various embodiments.

FIG. 8 illustrates a block diagram of a method to generate aclient-specific feature map, in accordance with various embodiments.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram that illustrates an example of a processingsystem in which at least some operations described herein can beimplemented.

The drawings depict various embodiments for the purpose of illustrationonly. Those skilled in the art will recognize that alternativeembodiments may be employed without departing from the principles of thetechnology. Accordingly, while specific embodiments are shown in thedrawings, the technology is amenable to various modifications.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The embodiments set forth below represent the necessary information toenable those skilled in the art to practice the embodiments andillustrate the best mode of practicing the embodiments. Upon reading thefollowing description in light of the accompanying figures, thoseskilled in the art will understand the concepts of the disclosure andwill recognize applications of these concepts that are not particularlyaddressed herein. These concepts and applications fall within the scopeof the disclosure and the accompanying claims.

Embodiments may be described with reference to particular computerprograms, system configurations, networks, etc. However, those skilledin the art will recognize that these features are equally applicable toother computer program types, system configurations, network types, etc.For example, although the term “Wi-Fi network” may be used to describe anetwork, the relevant embodiment could be deployed in another type ofnetwork.

Moreover, the disclosed technology can be embodied using special-purposehardware (e.g., circuitry), programmable circuitry appropriatelyprogrammed with software and/or firmware, or a combination ofspecial-purpose hardware and programmable circuitry. Accordingly,embodiments may include a machine-readable medium having instructionsthat may be used to program a computing device (e.g., a base station ora network-connected computer server) to generate a client-specificmodified feature map.

Terminology

The purpose of terminology used herein is only for describingembodiments and is not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure.Where context permits, words using the singular or plural form may alsoinclude the plural or singular form, respectively.

As used herein, unless specifically stated otherwise, terms such as“processing,” “computing,” “calculating,” “determining,” “displaying,”“generating,” or the like, refer to actions and processes of a computeror similar electronic computing device that manipulates and transformsdata represented as physical (electronic) quantities within thecomputer's memory or registers into other data similarly represented asphysical quantities within the computer's memory, registers, or othersuch storage medium, transmission, or display devices.

As used herein, terms such as “connected,” “coupled,” or the like, mayrefer to any connection or coupling, either direct or indirect, betweentwo or more elements. The coupling or connection between the elementscan be physical, logical, or a combination thereof.

References to “an embodiment” or “one embodiment” means that theparticular feature, function, structure, or characteristic beingdescribed is included in at least one embodiment. Occurrences of suchphrases do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, nor are theynecessarily referring to alternative embodiments that are mutuallyexclusive of one another.

Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the words “comprise” and“comprising” are to be construed in an inclusive sense rather than anexclusive or exhaustive sense (i.e., in the sense of “including but notlimited to”).

The term “based on” is also to be construed in an inclusive sense ratherthan an exclusive or exhaustive sense. Thus, unless otherwise noted, theterm “based on” is intended to mean “based at least in part on.”

The term “module” refers broadly to software components, hardwarecomponents, and/or firmware components. Modules are typically functionalcomponents that can generate useful data or other output(s) based onspecified input(s). A module may be self-contained. A computer programmay include one or more modules. Thus, a computer program may includemultiple modules responsible for completing different tasks or a singlemodule responsible for completing multiple tasks.

When used in reference to a list of multiple items, the word “or” isintended to cover all of the following interpretations: any of the itemsin the list, all of the items in the list, and any combination of itemsin the list.

The sequences of steps performed in any of the processes describedherein are exemplary. However, unless contrary to physical possibility,the steps may be performed in various sequences and combinations. Forexample, steps could be added to, or removed from, the processesdescribed herein. Similarly, steps could be replaced or reordered. Thus,descriptions of any processes are intended to be open-ended.

Overview

Various entities (e.g., vendors, corporations, operators) may providesolutions for clients. For example, a corporation may perform financialaccounting tasks for one or more clients. The entity can instruct acomputing device (e.g., a server, network-accessible server system) toexecute instructions relating to applications associated with theclients. For example, a corporation can maintain a server configured toexecute applications for a client and generate resultant data resultingfrom executing the applications. The resulting data may includeinformation generated by processing application instructions that can besent to the client.

In many cases, entities may utilize feature maps to provide a visualrepresentation of all available features/applications provided by theentity. For example, a corporation may provide a feature map to aprospective client to illustrate all available solutions and/or featuresthat can be provided to the prospective client. As another example,entities may provide a feature map to a current client to illustratesolutions/features that are currently provided to the client or can beprovided to the client.

However, in many cases, a feature map that includes a visualrepresentation of all available features/applications offered by theentity may include a large number of features/applications. This largenumber of features/applications may lower user experience toprospective/current clients, as clients may have difficultyunderstanding features/application provided to the client. For example,if a feature map includes a large number of available features, theclient may be unable to ascertain which features are already provided tothe client and which other features could be offered to the client.

Further, a feature map that is universal for all features/applicationsprovided by an entity may include applications that are not applicableor not available to a client. This may lower user experience, as clientsmay be unable to discern applications that are available/utilized by theclient.

Additionally, in many cases, entities may manually generate visualrepresentations of available solutions/features that is specific to eachclient. This may be performed manually by an operator, which may includethe operator manually inspecting various sources of data to identify allpresently provided features and potential features that could be offeredto the client. However, this may include the operator on anetwork-accessible electronic device (e.g., mobile phone, laptop)retrieving information over a network (e.g., the internet). This mayresult in a network-resource intensive and an inefficient use ofcomputational resources.

System Overview

The present embodiments relate to dynamic generation of client-specificfeature maps. Upon a request for a client-specific feature map, atemplate feature map including a visual representation of alltopics/applications provided by an operator may be obtained. Usage dataassociated with a client can be inspected to determine whatsolutions/features are provided to the client and which features areutilized by the client. Based on this determination, the templatefeature map can be modified to indicate what topics/applications areavailable and/or utilized by the client. This client-specific featuremap may provide a visual representation of what solutions/features areavailable to the client, utilized by the client, and not utilized by theclient.

Dynamically generating client-specific feature maps may increase clientengagement and experience by providing unique visual representations ofavailable and utilized solutions/features to the client. A computingdevice (e.g., a server, network-accessible server system, computer) mayutilize usage data associated with each client to generateclient-specific feature maps. This process to generate client-specificfeature maps may improve computational-resource efficiency by onlyutilizing usage data to generate the maps. In contrast to performingmultiple iterations of requesting and receiving information to identifyavailable/utilized features associated with a client, the presentembodiments may dynamically generate client-specific feature maps usingclient usage data, which may increase both computer and networkfunctionality.

FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of a network architecture 100, inaccordance with various embodiments. The network architecture 100 mayfacilitate data transmission between devices in the network. As shown inFIG. 1, the network architecture can include a network-accessible serversystem 102. The network-accessible server system 102 can include one ormore interconnected computing devices (e.g., servers, computers)configured to perform various processing tasks. The network-accessibleserver system 102 can include cloud servers configured to communicatewith other devices via a network 104 (e.g., the cloud 104).

In some embodiments, the network-accessible server system 102 may beconfigured to execute instructions relating to various applications. Forexample, network-accessible server system 102 may process instructionsassociated with an application (e.g., accounts receivable applications,accounts payable applications) as described with reference to FIG. 2.

The network-accessible server system 102 can communicate with anoperator device 106 via network 104. The operator device 106 can includea computing device (e.g., computer) associated with an operator (e.g.,vendor, corporation) and configured to interact with thenetwork-accessible server system 102. In some embodiments, the operatordevice 106 may provide instructions to the network-accessible serversystem 102 to perform processing tasks. For example, the operator device106 may provide an instruction to execute a series of instructionsassociated with applications for a client of the operator.

In some embodiments, the operator device 106 may determine whatapplications are to be performed by the network-accessible server system102 for a client. For example, the operator device 106 may instruct thenetwork-accessible server system to add or remove an application to beexecuted by the network-accessible server system 102 for a client. Theoperator device 106 may obtain usage data relating to clients from thenetwork-accessible server system 102 that represents informationresulting from executing the processes associated with a client.

The network architecture 100 can include a client device 108 configuredto interact with any of the network-accessible server system 102 and theoperator device 106. The client device 108 may provide input data to thenetwork-accessible server system 102 that can be used by thenetwork-accessible server system 102 to process instructions andgenerate resultant data for the client.

The network architecture 100 can include a third-party computing device110. Third-party computing device 110 can include a computing device(e.g., server) associated with a third party (e.g., a third-partyvendor). Any of the operator device 106 and network-accessible serversystem 102 can interact with and transmit information to the third-partycomputing device 110. As discussed with greater detail below, thethird-party computing device 110 can process instructions relating tothird party applications.

FIG. 2 illustrates a block diagram of a template feature map 200, inaccordance with various embodiments. As shown in FIG. 2, a templatefeature map 200 may include a visual representation of solutions andapplications that can be provided by an operator.

The template feature map 200 may be universal for all prospective andpresent clients. The template feature map 200 may allow for eitherprospective or current clients to view all available features in asingle visual representation of the features. Each operator may have aunique template feature map 200 specific to that operator.

Each feature (or “application”) 204 a-n may include applications thatcan be performed for a client. For example, a sales invoice application204 a may correspond to a series of instructions that can be executed togenerate sales invoice data for the client. In operation, the operatorcan instruct the network-accessible server system 102 to perform aunique subset of applications 204 a-n for each client. The templatefeature map 200 can illustrate all available applications that can beprovided to a client.

The template feature map 200 may include a plurality of topics 202 a-n,applications 204 a-n associated with the topics 202 a-n, third partyapplications 206 a-n associated with the topics 202 a-n, and storagemodules 208 a-b.

Topics 202 a-n can include a subset of applications that can be providedto a client. As an example, topics can include an accounts payable topic202 a, an accounts receivable topic 202 b, a value added tax (VAT)returns topic 202 c, and any other topic (e.g., topic N 202 n).

Applications 204 a-n can include a series of processing instructionsthat can be executed for a client. For example, a sales invoiceapplication 204 a can perform a series of instructions to generate salesinvoice data for a client. As another example, the accounts receivabletopic 202 a can include a sales invoices application 204 a, anotification correspondence application 204 b, a collections application204 c, and a cash entries application 204 d. In this example, theaccounts payable topic 202 b can include a payable invoice application204 f, a payable credit note application 204 e, and a paymentapplication 204 g. In this example, the VAT returns topic 202 c caninclude a VAT reporting application 204 h. Topic N 202 n can include anynumber of suitable applications 204 n.

The topics 202 a-n can also include third-party applications 206 a-nthat represent applications processed by third party computing devices110. As an example, the accounts receivable topic 202 a can include onethird party application 206 a, and the accounts payable topic 202 b caninclude multiple third-party applications 206 b-d.

The topics 202 a-n can be associated with various storage modules 208a-b. Storage modules 208 a-b can store specific data relating to eachtopic that can be utilized by applications. For example, the VAT returnstopic 202 c can include a tax code storage module 208 a configured tostore tax code data and a sales invoice storage module 208 b configuredto store sales invoice data. In this example, the VAT reportingapplication 204 h can utilize the data stored in the storage modules 208a-b to perform tasks relating to the application 204 h.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating example usage data 300 associatedwith a client, in accordance with various embodiments. Usage data 300can include information resulting from the processing of variousapplications for a client. For example, the client may provide inputdata to the network-accessible server system, and the network-accessibleserver system can execute instructions relating to applications, wherethe data resulting from executing the instructions includes the usagedata.

In some embodiments, the usage data 300 can include data received by thenetwork-accessible server system after processing instructions relatingto applications for a client. The usage data can be inspected todetermine usage data associated with each application. For example, theusage data can be divided into portions of usage data that are generatedas a result of processing an application for a client.

In some embodiments, the usage data 300 may be structured into adatabase or spreadsheet. For example, usage data can be structured intoa spreadsheet as shown in FIG. 3, where each row is associated withusage data for a specific application. In some embodiments, usage datafor each application can be included in multiple rows of a spreadsheetor database.

As shown in FIG. 3, the usage data 300 can be divided into rows based oneach application. Each row of the usage data can be associated with atopic 302 a-n and an application 304 a-n. For example, a first row ofusage data can be associated with an accounts receivable topic 302 a anda sales invoice application 304 a.

Associated with each topic 302 a-n and application 304 a-n can includeusage information 306. Usage information 306 can include one or moreentries including data resulting from the processing of instructions foreach application. For example, the sales invoices application 304 a caninclude one more numerical entries associated with sales invoice data.In some embodiments, any application that includes one or more non-zeroentries of usage information 306 may include an ‘x’ or another indicatorindicating that the application includes one or more non-zero entries.

In some embodiments, the usage data can represent whether eachapplication is utilized. An application may be determined to be utilizedwhen the usage data for an application includes one or more non-zeroentries. Additionally, an application may be determined to be availableto the client when the usage data includes any entries associated withthe client. In other words, applications that are not available to theclient may not have any entries included in the usage data, indicativethat the application is not available to the client.

In some embodiments, the usage data 300 can be inspected to determinewhether an application is utilized using any of a neural net, machinelearning, etc. For example, a portion of the usage data can be inspectedto determine what application generated the portion of the usage data.As another example, the usage data can be tracked over a period of timeto determine changes in the usage data and to determine utilizedapplications for a client.

FIG. 4 illustrates a mapping between usage data 410 and a templatefeature map 412, in accordance with various embodiments. As shown inFIG. 4, usage data 410 can be associated with a template feature map412. For example, a row of usage data 410 structured in a database orspreadsheet can correspond to a topic or application on the templatefeature map 412.

As noted above, each feature on the template feature map may be a visualrepresentation of an application to be executed by a network-accessibleserver system. For example, a sales invoices feature 404 a can representa first set of processes relating to generating sales invoice data for aclient. In some embodiments, a row of usage data can be associated witha specific topic or application. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, afirst correlation 408 a can be between an accounts receivable topic 402a and a first row of the usage data 410. In some embodiments, acorrelation 408 a-d can associate a topic/application with one or morerows of data. Accordingly, a portion on the template feature map 412 cancorrelate with a portion of the usage data 410.

The correlations 408 a-d can facilitate interactivity between the usagedata 410 and template feature map 412. For example, modifying a firstapplication (e.g., sales invoices application 404 a) can modify acorresponding portion of the usage data 410 (e.g., the sales invoicesrow of the usage data). Accordingly, an operator can modify the locationof an application on the feature map 412, and the application cancorrespond to a specific row of usage data.

In some embodiments, interacting with a portion of the template featuremap 412 can allow access to corresponding usage data information. Forexample, interacting with (e.g., selecting, clicking) a firstapplication (e.g., sales invoices application 404 a) may providecorresponding usage information that correlates to the firstapplication.

FIG. 5 illustrates a block diagram of a flow process 500 for generatinga modified feature map, in accordance with various embodiments. Themethod may include obtaining a template feature map (block 502). Thetemplate feature map can be reconceived from any of a device associatedwith an operator or a network-accessible server system. In someembodiments, the template feature map may be obtained based on receivinga request for a modified feature map for a client.

The method may include obtaining usage data relating to a client (block504). The usage data may include data resulting from executinginstructions relating to applications for a client. The usage data maybe structured in a database or spreadsheet.

The method may include determining whether the usage data indicates thata feature is associated with a client (block 506). All featuresassociated with the client may include features that are provided to theclient. For example, features associated with the client can includeapplications that the client requested to be performed for the client.

This may include inspecting the usage data to determine whether thereare any usage data entries associated with the feature. For example, arow of the usage data associated with a first feature can be inspectedto determine whether the row includes any usage information.

If the usage data indicates that a feature is associated with theclient, the template feature map can be modified to include a firstaction near the feature indicating that the feature is associated withthe client (block 508). The first action can include adding an icon(e.g., a check mark) to the template feature map indicating that afeature is associated with the client. The first action is described ingreater detail with respect to FIG. 6.

If the usage data indicates that a feature is not associated with theclient, the template feature map can be modified to include a secondaction near the feature indicating that the feature is not associatedwith the client (block 510). The second action can include adding anicon (e.g., an ‘X’) to the template feature map indicating that afeature is not associated with the client. The second action can alsoinclude removing the feature from the template feature map. The secondaction is described in greater detail with respect to FIGS. 6-7.

For each feature that is associated with the client, the method mayinclude inspecting the usage data to determine whether the feature isutilized by the client (block 512). This may include determining whetherthe usage data includes any non-zero entries associated with thefeature.

If the usage data indicates that a feature is utilized with the client,the template feature map can be modified to include a third action nearthe feature indicating that the feature is associated with the clientand utilized by the client (block 514). The third action can includeadding an icon (e.g., a check mark) to the template feature mapindicating that a feature is associated with the client and utilized bythe client. The third action is described in greater detail with respectto FIGS. 6-7.

If the usage data indicates that a feature is associated with the clientbut not utilized by the client, the template feature map can be modifiedto include a fourth action near the feature indicating that the featureassociated with the client but not utilized by the client (block 516).The fourth action can include adding an icon (e.g., a question mark) tothe template feature map indicating that a feature associated with theclient but not utilized by the client. The fourth action is described ingreater detail with respect to FIGS. 6-7. This may be repeated for eachfeature included in the template feature map.

The method may include outputting a modified feature map (block 518).The modified feature map may include the template feature map that wasmodified using the method outlined above. The modified feature map maybe provided to a client or to an operator device to be utilized by anyof the client or operator.

FIG. 6 illustrates a block diagram of a generated client-specificfeature map 600, in accordance with various embodiments. As shown inFIG. 6, various icons 610-618 may be added to the generatedclient-specific feature map 600.

The generated client-specific feature map 600 may include a first icon610 a-n indicating that a feature is available and utilized by theclient. For example, the sales invoices application 604 a can include afirst icon 610 a (e.g., a checkmark) indicating that the usage dataincludes entries indicating that the sales invoices application 604 a isavailable and utilized by the client. Each icon 610 a-n can be added tothe feature map 600 near each application 604 a-n.

In some embodiments, the icon 610 a-n may be selected to identify moreinformation about the usage data. For example, a first icon 610 a can beselected to view usage data associated with the sales invoicesapplication 604 a.

The generated client-specific feature map 600 may include a second icon612 a-b indicating that a feature is available to the client but notutilized by the client. The second icon 612 a-b can include anindication (e.g., a question mark) indicating that the application isavailable to the client but not utilized by the client. For example, acollections application 604 c may include a second icon 612 a based ondetermining that the usage data includes entries for the collectionsapplication 604 c, but the usage data entries indicate that thecollections application 604 c is not utilized by the client. The secondicon 612 a-b can be utilized to indicate to the client that the clienthas application(s) provided to them that are not sufficiently utilizedby the client.

The generated client-specific feature map 600 may include a third icon614 a-b indicating that a third-party application is available andutilized by the client. As noted above, a third-party application mayinclude an application executed by a third-party device. The third-partydevice may send usage data relating to the third-party application for aclient to any of the operator device or the network-accessible serversystem. Based on the received third-party application usage data, it maybe determined whether the third-party application is available to theclient and utilized by the client. If the third-party application isavailable to the client and utilized by the client, the third icon 614a-b (e.g., checkmark) may be added to the feature map near thethird-party application.

The generated client-specific feature map 600 may include a fourth icon616 a-c indicating that a third-party application is available but notutilized by the client. If the third-party application is available tothe client and utilized by the client, the fourth icon 616 a-c (e.g.,question mark) may be added to the feature map near the third-partyapplication.

The generated client-specific feature map 600 may include a fifth icon618 a-c indicating that a feature is not available to the client. Thefifth icon may be added to the feature map 600 upon determining that theusage data does not include any entries associated with a feature. Thefifth icon 618 a-c (e.g., an ‘X’) may be added to the feature map nearand feature that is not available to a client.

FIG. 7 illustrates a block diagram of a generated client-specificfeature map 700, in accordance with various embodiments. As shown inFIG. 7, applications that are not available to a client may be removed.For example, a VAT returns 602 c, a VAT reporting application 604 h, andstorage modules 608 a-b may be removed from the generatedclient-specific feature map 700 upon determining that theapplications/topics are not associated with the client. Removingapplications that are not associated with the client from the featuremap 700 may provide an easily identifiable listing of applicationsassociated with the client.

FIG. 8 illustrates a block diagram of a method to generate aclient-specific feature map, in accordance with various embodiments. Themethod may include obtaining a template feature map (block 802). Thetemplate feature map may include a visual representation of allfeatures/application that can be provided by an operator. Each portionof the template feature map may be associated with a specificapplication. In some embodiments, each feature of the template featuremap is associated with a portion of the template map, and wherein eachportion is associated with a corresponding part of the usage data.

The method may include receiving a series of usage data associated witha first client (block 804). The usage data may include data resultingfrom executing applications associated with a first client.

In some embodiments, the usage data includes a listing of data resultingfrom processing instructions associated with the functions, the usagedata represented in a listing of data separated by each function.

In some embodiments, usage data associated with each function isincluded in a row of the listing of data. In some embodiments, the usagedata is received at an operator device from a network-accessible serversystem configured to process instructions relating to each function andgenerate the usage data.

The method may include comparing the usage data with each featureincluded in the template feature map to determine whether each featureis associated with the first client (block 806). In some embodiments,comparing the usage data with each feature included in the templatefeature map to determine whether each feature is associated with thefirst client includes determining whether the usage data includes anyentries associated with a first feature, wherein the first feature isincluded as one of the features associated with the first client basedon determining that usage data includes at least one entry associatedwith the first feature.

The method may include, for each feature associated with the firstclient, modifying the template feature map to include a first action onthe template feature map near each feature associated with the firstclient (block 808). In some embodiments, modifying the template featuremap to include the first action includes any of removing all featuresnot associated with the first client or adding a first mark near eachfeature associated with the first client, the first mark indicative thateach marked feature is available to the first client.

The method may include comparing the usage data with each featureassociated with the first client to determine whether each figureassociated with the first client is utilized by the first client (block810). In some embodiments, comparing the usage data with each featureincluded in the template feature map to determine whether each featureassociated with the first client and utilized by the first clientincludes determining whether the usage data includes any non-zeroentries associated with a first feature, wherein the first feature isincluded as one of the features associated with the first client andutilized by the first client based on determining that the usage dataincludes at least one non-zero entry associated with the first feature.

The method may include, for each feature associated with the firstclient and utilized by the first client, modifying the template featuremap to include a second action on the template feature map near eachfeature associated with the first client and utilized by the firstclient (block 812). In some embodiments, modifying the template featuremap to include the second action includes at least one of adding asecond mark to each feature associated with the first client andutilized by the first client, the second mark indicating that eachfeature is utilized by the first client, and adding a third mark to eachfeature associated with the first client and not utilized by the firstclient, the third mark indicating that each feature is not utilized bythe first client.

The method may include sending the modified template feature map (block814). The modified template feature map includes the template featuremap modified to add the first and second action to the template featuremap.

In some embodiments, the method includes sending a request to athird-party application server requesting third-party usage dataassociated with the first client, determining whether any of thethird-party usage data is associated with a third party feature includedin the template feature map, and responsive to determining that any ofthe third party usage data is associated with the third party feature,modifying the template feature map to include the first action on thetemplate feature map near the third party feature.

Example Processing System

FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a processing system900 in which at least some operations described herein can beimplemented. As shown in FIG. 9, the processing system 900 may includeone or more central processing units (“processors”) 902, main memory906, non-volatile memory 910, network adapter 912 (e.g., networkinterfaces), video display 918, input/output devices 920, control device922 (e.g., keyboard and pointing devices), drive unit 924 including astorage medium 926, and signal generation device 930 that arecommunicatively connected to a bus 916. The bus 916 is illustrated as anabstraction that represents any one or more separate physical buses,point to point connections, or both connected by appropriate bridges,adapters, or controllers. The bus 916, therefore, can include, forexample, a system bus, a Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) bus orPCI-Express bus, a HyperTransport or industry standard architecture(ISA) bus, a small computer system interface (SCSI) bus, a universalserial bus (USB), IIC (I2C) bus, or an Institute of Electrical andElectronics Engineers (IEEE) standard 1394 bus, also called “Firewire.”

In various embodiments, the processing system 900 operates as part of auser device, although the processing system 900 may also be connected(e.g., wired or wirelessly) to the user device. In a networkeddeployment, the processing system 900 may operate in the capacity of aserver or a client machine in a client-server network environment, or asa peer machine in a peer-to-peer (or distributed) network environment.

The processing system 900 may be a server computer, a client computer, apersonal computer, a tablet, a laptop computer, a personal digitalassistant (PDA), a cellular phone, a processor, a web appliance, anetwork router, switch or bridge, a console, a hand-held console, agaming device, a music player, network-connected (“smart”) televisions,television-connected devices, or any portable device or machine capableof executing a set of instructions (sequential or otherwise) thatspecify actions to be taken by the processing system 900.

While the main memory 906, non-volatile memory 910, and storage medium926 (also called a “machine-readable medium) are shown to be a singlemedium, the term “machine-readable medium” and “storage medium” shouldbe taken to include a single medium or multiple media (e.g., acentralized or distributed database, and/or associated caches andservers) that store one or more sets of instructions 928. The term“machine-readable medium” and “storage medium” shall also be taken toinclude any medium that is capable of storing, encoding, or carrying aset of instructions for execution by the computing system and that causethe computing system to perform any one or more of the methodologies ofthe presently disclosed embodiments.

In general, the routines executed to implement the embodiments of thedisclosure, may be implemented as part of an operating system or aspecific application, component, program, object, module or sequence ofinstructions referred to as “computer programs.” The computer programstypically comprise one or more instructions (e.g., instructions 904,908, 928) set at various times in various memory and storage devices ina computer, and that, when read and executed by one or more processingunits or processors 902, cause the processing system 900 to performoperations to execute elements involving the various aspects of thedisclosure.

Moreover, while embodiments have been described in the context of fullyfunctioning computers and computer systems, those skilled in the artwill appreciate that the various embodiments are capable of beingdistributed as a program in a variety of forms, and that the disclosureapplies equally regardless of the particular type of machine orcomputer-readable media used to actually effect the distribution. Forexample, the technology described herein could be implemented usingvirtual machines or cloud computing services.

Further examples of machine-readable storage media, machine-readablemedia, or computer-readable (storage) media include, but are not limitedto, recordable type media such as volatile and non-volatile memorydevices 910, floppy and other removable disks, hard disk drives, opticaldisks (e.g., Compact Disk Read-Only Memory (CD ROMS), Digital VersatileDisks (DVDs)), and transmission type media, such as digital and analogcommunication links.

The network adapter 912 enables the processing system 900 to mediatedata in a network 914 with an entity that is external to the processingsystem 900 through any known and/or convenient communications protocolsupported by the processing system 900 and the external entity. Thenetwork adapter 912 can include one or more of a network adaptor card, awireless network interface card, a router, an access point, a wirelessrouter, a switch, a multilayer switch, a protocol converter, a gateway,a bridge, bridge router, a hub, a digital media receiver, and/or arepeater.

The network adapter 912 can include a firewall which can, in someembodiments, govern and/or manage permission to access/proxy data in acomputer network, and track varying levels of trust between differentmachines and/or applications. The firewall can be any number of moduleshaving any combination of hardware and/or software components able toenforce a predetermined set of access rights between a particular set ofmachines and applications, machines and machines, and/or applicationsand applications, for example, to regulate the flow of traffic andresource sharing between these varying entities. The firewall mayadditionally manage and/or have access to an access control list whichdetails permissions including for example, the access and operationrights of an object by an individual, a machine, and/or an application,and the circumstances under which the permission rights stand.

As indicated above, the techniques introduced here implemented by, forexample, programmable circuitry (e.g., one or more microprocessors),programmed with software and/or firmware, entirely in special-purposehardwired (i.e., non-programmable) circuitry, or in a combination orsuch forms. Special-purpose circuitry can be in the form of, forexample, one or more application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs),programmable logic devices (PLDs), field-programmable gate arrays(FPGAs), etc.

From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that specific embodiments ofthe invention have been described herein for purposes of illustration,but that various modifications may be made without deviating from thescope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not limited exceptas by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method comprising: obtaining a template featuremap representing a visual representation of a plurality of featuresprovided by an operator; receiving a series of usage data associatedwith a first client; comparing the usage data with each feature includedin the template feature map to determine whether each feature isassociated with the first client; for each feature associated with thefirst client, modifying the template feature map to include a firstaction on the template feature map near each feature associated with thefirst client; comparing the usage data with each feature associated withthe first client to determine whether each figure associated with thefirst client is utilized by the first client; for each featureassociated with the first client and utilized by the first client,modifying the template feature map to include a second action on thetemplate feature map near each feature associated with the first clientand utilized by the first client; and sending the modified templatefeature map.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the usage data includes alisting of data resulting from processing instructions associated withthe functions, the usage data represented in a listing of data separatedby each function.
 3. The method of claim 2, wherein usage dataassociated with each function is included in a row of the listing ofdata.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the usage data is received at anoperator device from a network-accessible server system configured toprocess instructions relating to each function and generate the usagedata.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein each feature is associated witha portion of the template map and wherein each portion is associatedwith a corresponding part of the usage data.
 6. The method of claim 1,wherein comparing the usage data with each feature included in thetemplate feature map to determine whether each feature is associatedwith the first client includes determining whether the usage dataincludes any entries associated with a first feature, wherein the firstfeature is included as one of the features associated with the firstclient based on determining that usage data includes at least one entryassociated with the first feature.
 7. The method of claim 1, whereincomparing the usage data with each feature included in the templatefeature map to determine whether each feature associated with the firstclient and utilized by the first client includes: determining whetherthe usage data includes any non-zero entries associated with a firstfeature, wherein the first feature is included as one of the featuresassociated with the first client and utilized by the first client basedon determining that the usage data includes at least one non-zero entryassociated with the first feature.
 8. The method of claim 1, whereinmodifying the template feature map to include the first action includesany of removing all features not associated with the first client oradding a first mark near each feature associated with the first client,the first mark indicative that each marked feature is available to thefirst client.
 9. The method of claim 1, wherein modifying the templatefeature map to include the second action includes at least one of:adding a second mark to each feature associated with the first clientand utilized by the first client, the second mark indicating that eachfeature is utilized by the first client; and adding a third mark to eachfeature associated with the first client and not utilized by the firstclient, the third mark indicating that each feature is not utilized bythe first client.
 10. The method of claim 1, further comprising: sendinga request to a third-party application server requesting third-partyusage data associated with the first client; determining whether any ofthe third-party usage data is associated with a third party featureincluded in the template feature map; and responsive to determining thatany of the third party usage data is associated with the third partyfeature, modifying the template feature map to include the first actionon the template feature map near the third party feature.
 11. A systemto generate a modified feature map specific to a client, the systemcomprising: a network-accessible server system configured to: process aplurality of instructions associated with the client, the plurality ofinstructions associated with features available to the client; generateusage data representing data resulting from processing the plurality ofinstructions associated with the client; and an operator deviceconfigured to: obtain a template feature map representing a visualrepresentation of all features provided by an operator; receive theusage data associated with the client; for each feature provided by theoperator, determine whether the usage data includes any informationrelating to the feature; upon determining that the usage data includesany information relating to any feature, modifying the template featuremap to include a first marking on the template feature map near eachfeature indicative that each feature is available to the client; for allfeatures available to the client, determine whether the usage dataincludes any non-zero entries relating to each feature; upon determiningthat the usage data includes any non-zero entries relating to eachfeature, modifying the template feature map to include a second markingon the template feature map near each feature indicative that eachfeature is utilized by the client, the modified feature map specific tothe client including the modified template feature map.
 12. The systemof claim 11, wherein the operator device is further configured to:inspect the usage data to identify a first portion of the usage dataassociated with a first feature, wherein the first portion of the usagedata corresponds to a first area on the template feature map associatedwith the first feature.
 13. The system of claim 11, wherein the firstmarking includes a mark near each feature on the template feature map,the first mark indicative that each marked feature is available to thefirst client.
 14. The system of claim 11, wherein the operator device isfurther configured to: add a third mark to each feature associated withthe first client and not utilized by the first client, the third markindicating that each feature is available to the client but not utilizedby the client.
 15. The system of claim 11, wherein the operator deviceis further configured to: sending a request to a third-party applicationserver requesting third-party usage data associated with the firstclient; determining whether any of the third-party usage data isassociated with a third party feature included in the template featuremap; and responsive to determining that any of the third party usagedata is associated with the third party feature, modifying the templatefeature map to include the first action on the template feature map nearthe third party feature.
 16. A computer-implement method to generate amodified feature map specific to a client, the method comprising:receiving a request to generate the modified feature map specific to theclient; obtaining a template feature map representing a visualrepresentation of a plurality of features provided by an operator, eachfeature associated with a plurality of instructions to be processed forthe client; obtaining usage data associated with the client; comparingthe usage data with each feature included in the template feature map todetermine whether any feature is associated with the client; upondetermining that any feature is associated with the client, performing afirst action to the template feature map near each feature; comparingthe usage data with each feature associated with the client to determinewhether any figure is utilized by the client; for each featureassociated with the first client and utilized by the first client,performing a second action to the template feature map near each featureassociated with the first client and utilized by the first client; andgenerating the modified feature map specific to the client that includesthe modified template feature map.
 17. The computer-implement method ofclaim 16, wherein the usage data includes a listing of data resultingfrom processing instructions associated with each function, the usagedata represented in a listing of data separated by each function whereeach row of the usage data is associated with a corresponding function.18. The computer-implement method of claim 16, wherein comparing theusage data with each feature included in the template feature map todetermine whether each feature is associated with the first clientincludes determining whether the usage data includes any entriesassociated with a first feature, wherein the first feature is includedas one of the features associated with the first client based ondetermining that usage data includes at least one entry associated withthe first feature.
 19. The computer-implement method of claim 16,wherein comparing the usage data with each feature included in thetemplate feature map to determine whether each feature associated withthe first client and utilized by the first client includes: determiningwhether the usage data includes any non-zero entries associated with afirst feature, wherein the first feature is included as one of thefeatures associated with the first client and utilized by the firstclient based on determining that the usage data includes at least onenon-zero entry associated with the first feature.
 20. Thecomputer-implement method of claim 16, further comprising: sending arequest to a third-party application server requesting third-party usagedata associated with the first client; determining whether any of thethird-party usage data is associated with a third party feature includedin the template feature map; and responsive to determining that any ofthe third party usage data is associated with the third party feature,modifying the template feature map to include the first action on thetemplate feature map near the third party feature.